Hardcover, 288 pages. If the Church is to 'raise the village,' it must stop having church and start being the Church!" It Takes a Church to Raise a Village contrasts the pompous splendor of the modern church with the frantic destitution of the village around her. This is not a 'feel good' book. With prophetic prowess Dr. Mitchell confronts the church with her lack of sensitivity to the raging village needs right at her doorsteps. "We are more concerned with the elegance of our edifices than we are with the plight of the people all around us." "The church lives in fear of the village surrounding them. They are more concerned about the village breaking in to their beautiful facilities than about breaking out into the neighborhood with the power of the glorious gospel of our Lord." Dr. Mitchell offers a passionate plea challenging the church to get out of the bleachers and on to the playing field. Dr. Mitchell declares, "We can't affect the outcome of the game if we are not in the game." Pastor of a 1,000-member congregation in Ohio, Dr. Mitchell doesn't speak from lofty theory, but from years of measurable success in rescuing children from damaged homes and troubled schools....offering literacy programs, rehabilitation for former prisoners, job training for the homeless, adoptions services, unwed pregnancy counseling...and much more. She certainly has proved It Takes a Church to Raise a Village.